Ranchi: Archaeologists have stumbled upon a number of antiquities, including Buddha stupas, belonging to the 9th century AD at Itkhori in Jharkhand’s Chatra district.

In their first excavation exercise this year, the archaeologists found 58 antiquities, including four Buddha stupas, at Itkhori, N G Nikoshey, Superintending Archaeologist (Ranchi Circle) of the Archaeological Survey of India, said.

"Among the discoveries made were Buddha statues in various mudras and Boddhisatva deities dedicated to Buddhism. Antiquities belonging to the Jainism and Hinduism were also found during the excavation," he said.

The mound, where the objects are found, is spread across 500x150 metres and date back to the 9th and 10th centuries Pala period, he explained.While 58 antiquities were kept with the department, the villagers kept about 400 antiquities under a shed there refusing to hand them over.

There were also semi-precious stones, terracotta and metals used as toy objects, ornaments, household objects and ritualistic objects among the finds, he said. Also found was a brick floor of single course at the stupa number one at the North-Western side of the excavated place, which measured 3.8m in length and 2.35m in width.

As many as 17 intent hopscotch, made of both terracotta and sandstone, and six beads of terracotta were recovered in the excavation, he said.